Wastewater treatment apparatus

ABSTRACT

A water treatment unit includes a mixing chamber surrounding the upper end of a riser containing an impeller. Water can be moved from a body of water up through the riser, and out through laterally directed openings into the chamber adjacent to an air inlet. The water moving out the laterally directed openings of the stand pipe, mixes with air drawn in through the air inlet to oxygenate the water, and the oxygenated water exits the chamber into the body of water through one or more water outlets in the lower portion of the chamber due to the head developed by the inflow of water into the chamber. The outward flow of water from the chamber can cause a toroidal or other desired flow of water within the body of water surrounding the water treatment apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Patent Cooperation Treaty PatentApplication Ser. No. PCT/US09/054522, filed Aug. 20, 2009, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/090,396filed Aug. 20, 2008. The entire disclosure of each of the foregoingapplications is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Wastewater from municipal sewage systems, large-scale agriculturaloperations, and industrial waste product systems often includes largeamounts of organic and inorganic waste material that, if left untreated,can create severe odors due to anaerobic decay and can generate toxicproducts. Treating such waste generally involves collecting the organicand inorganic waste material in a stream of liquid or water, andcollecting the waste in settling pools, ponds, or lagoons. Thereafter,the waste is allowed to settle in progressive settling ponds, pools, orlagoons, and any floating detritus is allowed to decompose, allowing theeffluent to be run off relatively free of the debris for furthertreatment or clarification. During this process, the addition of oxygensufficient to meet the basic oxygen demand (BOD) is preferred so thatthe waste material in the water will undergo biodegradation thatconverts the wastewater into a relatively nontoxic, non-offensiveeffluent. Since anaerobic decomposition is inefficient as compared toaerobic decomposition, and anaerobic decomposition often results in theproduction of a malodorous sulfur-containing gas, it is preferred to addoxygen to the wastewater to increase decomposition while reducing oreliminating the existence of anaerobic decomposition. Various approacheshave been used, typically by surface aeration or by submerged aerationsystems wherein air is pumped below the surface of the water, orsometimes by a rotating impeller that mixes the wastewater and entrainsair into that water. Examples are to be found in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,521,864; 3,846,516; 5,874,003; 6,145,815; and 6,241,221.

While each of these previous designs may have application in that havebeen considered and developed, there is still a need for an improvedapparatus for economically mixing a large quantity of wastewater withsufficient air to at least satisfy the BOD of the wastewater to promotebiodegradation of the waste materials, and/or to reduce or eliminateoffgassing of offensive odors. Further, it will be appreciated that inthe collection of sewage from household waste, a great deal of humanhair accumulates in settling pools, ponds, or lagoons, causing largemats or strings of hair mixed with other organic matter, which willoften cause entanglement of material in wastewater treatment equipment,and can result in equipment failure—an issue that is not addressed inthe foregoing prior examples. As such, a design that is not adverselyaffected by the hair and stringy waste that accumulates in wastewaterfacilities, while providing oxygenation of a large variety of settlingpools, ponds, or lagoons in an energy efficient manner and producible ata cost effective price would be greatly appreciated.

SUMMARY

These needs may be satisfied by a water treatment unit that can besituated in a body of water such as a tank, pool, pond or lake. Thewater treatment unit includes a riser having an intake that can besituated below the surface of the water. A chamber is coupled to anupper portion of the riser stand that has a base, a sidewall extendingupward from the base, and a top that can be located above the watersurface in the body of water. The riser has an outlet adjacent the topof the riser into the chamber. The chamber has at least one water outletin a lower portion of the chamber, and an air inlet in an upper portionof the chamber. The water outlet from the chamber can take the form ofone or more outlets through the chamber base. A directionally adjustablepipe can be coupled to the outlet from the chamber so that the outflowfrom the chamber can be used to develop a desired flow pattern, such asa toroidal flow, within the body of water.

An impeller is connected to the riser to move water upward from theintake and out through the upper opening of the riser into the chamber.The upper opening can take the form of a plurality of openings spacedaround an upper portion of the riser. The impeller can take the form ofa motor coupled to the chamber. upper portion immediately above an upperend of the riser and a shaft coupled to the motor and to at least onepropeller situated within the riser below the water level in the body ofwater. The water flow from the riser into the chamber creates a headwithin the chamber forcing water out through the water outlet in thelower portion of the chamber.

The water treatment unit riser upper opening can be surrounded by adepending flange. The depending flange can intercept and outward flow ofwater from the upper opening of the riser. The outward flow of waterwill also become downwardly directed at least due to the influence ofgravity. The outward and downwardly directed flow of water can entrainair coming through the air inlet in the upper portion of the chamber toelevate the level of oxygen dissolved in the water within the chamber,which then flows out through the outlets in the chamber base. Thedownwardly directed water can also mix with water in the chamber in aturbulent manner to generate a surface foam.

The water treatment unit can be used to move water from the body ofwater up through the riser, and out through the laterally directedopenings into the chamber adjacent to the air inlet. The water movingout the laterally directed openings of the stand pipe, mixes with airdrawn in through the air inlet to oxygenate the water, and theoxygenated water exits the chamber into the body of water through one ormore water outlets in the lower portion of the chamber due to the headdeveloped by the inflow of water into the chamber. The outward flow ofwater from the chamber can cause a toroidal or other desired flow ofwater within the body of water surrounding the water treatmentapparatus.

Other features of the present disclosure and the correspondingadvantages of those features will become apparent from the followingdiscussion of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure,exemplifying the best mode of practicing the present disclosure, whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The components in thefigures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed uponillustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the figures,like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, but not all reference numerals are shown in each of thefigures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water treatment unit embodying thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a water treatment unit according to thepresent application with a portion broken away to reveal the interiorthe water treatment unit.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the water treatment unit shown in FIG. 1taken along line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of a second water treatment unitembodying the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a water treatment unit according to thepresent application, having a portion broken away to reveal the interiorthe water treatment unit.

DESCRIPTION

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, according to at least one embodiment ofthe present application, a water treatment unit 10 includes a riser orpump barrel 12 having a lower end 14 and an upper end 16 that isoptionally fabricated from plastic, metal (including, for example,galvanized steel, enamel-coated steel, aluminum, stainless steel, orother malleable metals), or other materials known in the art. Further,according to at least one embodiment, one or more inlets 18 are beprovided around lower end 14 of riser 12. According to at least oneoptional embodiment, a bottom end 20 is optionally added to lower end 14of riser 12, whereby one or more inlets 18 may be fitted to lower end 14of riser 12, and may optionally include a ballast member 22 as shown inFIG. 3 to assist in maintaining the water treatment unit 10 upright. Itwill be appreciated that the weight of ballast member 22 may be adjustedto adjust the height at which the upper end 16 floats above the waterlevel of the lagoon, pond, or tank W.

According to at least one embodiment, riser 12 is sized and shaped to beof any required length and cross-sectional area as required by thenecessary water flow, amperage requirements, and viscosity ofwastewater. One or more water discharge outlets 24 can be providedaround the upper end 16 of the riser 12. A cap 26 can be coupled to theupper end 16 of the riser 12 by fasteners 28 or other means tosubstantially close the upper end 16 of the riser 12. The cap 26 caninclude a peripheral wall 30 that surrounds the upper end 16 of theriser 12.

A mixed wastewater chamber 32 optionally surrounds the upper end 16 ofthe riser 12 and peripheral wall 30, formed by a housing comprising achamber floor 34 that is optionally fixed to a selected portion of riser12, located between the upper end 16 and the lower end 14, by fasteners,welding, fusing or other means of connecting the material comprisingriser 12 and chamber floor 34. Mixed wastewater chamber 32 furtheroptionally comprises wall 42 and chamber ceiling 46, with chamber floor34, wall 42, and chamber ceiling 46 meeting to cause wastewater chamber32 to attach to, and substantially enclose riser 12. Chamber floor 34optionally comprises one or more openings 39 in chamber floor 34,whereby fluid that has been pumped through riser 12 cascades out throughdischarge outlets 24, into mixed water chamber 32, and building pressureforces the resulting mixed fluid down and out through the one or moreopenings 39 in chamber floor 34. Further optionally, chamber ceiling 46comprises chamber ceiling opening 54 through which air can be drawn intothe chamber 32. An intermediate wall 58 optionally depends from chamberceiling 46 outside peripheral wall 30 (if present in the embodiment) andinside the outer wall 42. In operation, turning to FIG. 3, intermediatewall 58 separates an inner chamber 60 from the remainder of chamber 32,as intermediate wall 58 is sized to depend from chamber ceiling 46 toreach water level W1 inside chamber 32 such that no air gap existsbetween water level W1 and a bottom portion of inner intermediate wall58. While each of the peripheral wall 30, intermediate wall 58 andchamber wall 42 are illustrated to be portions of right cylinders inshape in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, other shapes may be adopted for one or moreof the walls 30, 42 and 58.

According to at least one embodiment, motor 64, such as a ¾ HP electricmotor or any other properly sized and powered motor, engine, or otherrevolving powerplant, can be fixed to and supported by the cap 26 asshown in FIGS. 2-4, or motor 64 may be attached to a motor plate 110that is sized larger than chamber ceiling opening 54, thereby allowingmotor 64, and motor plate 110 (shown in FIG. 5) may be removablyattached to chamber ceiling 64 by way of fasteners such as bolts, wingnuts, or other fastener means. Shaft 66 is optionally connected to motor64 by coupling member 65 extending downward through cap opening 68 incap 26 in general axial alignment with riser 12. It will be appreciatedthat by utilizing a motor plate that fits over the top of chamberceiling opening as shown in FIG. 5, removal of the motor 64, shaft 66,and propellers 70 are readily pulled from riser 12 to allow forinspection of components, sharpening of blades, and general maintenanceor repair of the equipment with minimal disassembly effort.

According to at least one embodiment, at least one propeller 70 iscoupled to shaft 66 to cause rotation of shaft 66 by the motor 64,thereby creating an upward flow of fluid from a body of water outsidewaste treatment unit 10 into riser 12. A buoyant member 72, such as thatshown in FIG. 4, may be attached to waste treatment unit 10 in anymanner to cause waste treatment unit to sit at a specified height in abody of water or fluid such that waste treatment unit 10 sits at apredetermined level W as shown in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated thatlevel W may be determined as a different height for differentembodiments of waste treatment unit 10, and depending on the applicationfor which waste treatment unit 10 is utilized. It will be appreciatedthat buoyant member 72 can take many forms, including foam filled buoys,air filled bladders that may be adjusted to adjust where water level Wsits in relation to waste treatment unit 10, or any other buoyantmaterial. For example, two buoyant floats such as two 2′×4′ polyethylenecoated foam dock floats available from Formex Manufacturing, Inc.,Lawrenceville, Ga., can be utilized, along with cross members or otherattaching members to hold waste treatment unit 10 in the proper relationto the fluid line. Additionally, two or more torque lines can beconnected to the outer wall 42 to prevent rotation of the treatment unit10 when the motor 64 is running.

As shown in FIG. 3, according to at least one embodiment, multiplepropellers 70 are employed, whereby a first propeller 70 is includedalong shaft 66 near the lower end of riser 12, and a second propeller 70is included along shaft 66 near upper end 16 of riser 12. In at leastone exemplary embodiment, second propeller 70 is positioned such thatthe propeller is at least partially exposed to air, thereby allowingsecond propeller to entrain air into the water or fluid flowing pastsecond propeller 70 and into discharge outlets 24. According to at leastone embodiment, second propeller is positioned relative to the height ofthe discharge outlets such that air is entrained into the water at asize less than 1.0 mm, 0.5 mm, less than 0.25 mm, less than 0.15 mm, orless than 0.1 mm in size for the given motor/propeller combination.

An alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 in which the water treatmentunit 10 is shown to include a riser or pump barrel 12 having a lower end14 and an upper end 16. One or more inlets 18 can be provided around thelower end 14 of the riser 12. A bottom end 20 can be provided that mayinclude a ballast member 22 to assist in maintaining the water treatmentunit 10 upright. The riser 12 can be of any required length. One or morewater discharge outlets 24 can be provided around the upper end 16 ofthe riser 12. A cap or lid 26 can be coupled to the upper end 16 of theriser 12 by fasteners 28 or other means to substantially close the upperend 16 of the riser 12. The cap 26 can include a depending wallperipheral wall 30 that surrounds the upper end 16 of the riser 12.

A chamber 32 can surround the upper end 16 of the riser 12 and theperipheral wall 30. A chamber floor or bottom plate 34 can be fixed toan intermediate portion 36 of the riser 12, located between the upperend 16 and the lower end 14, by fasteners 38 or other means. The chamberfloor or bottom plate 34 can have one or more openings 39 and an outeredge 40 that can be circular. The chamber 32 can be further defined by ashroud outer wall 42 that can have a lower edge 44 that contacts thechamber floor or bottom plate 34. A chamber ceiling 46 can have an outeredge 48 that can be fixed to or unitary with an upper edge 50 of theshroud outer wall 42. The chamber ceiling 46 optionally includes chamberceiling opening 54 through which air can be drawn into chamber 32. Thetop wall 46 can be spaced from the cap 26 by means of spacers 56, whichcan be adjustable. The spacers 56 are illustrated to be fixed to the cap26 and contacting top wall 46, but the spacers can be fixed to the topwall 46 and contacting cap 26. An intermediate wall 58 can depend fromthe top wall 46 outside the peripheral wall 30 and inside the outer wall42. The intermediate wall 58 can be seen to separate an inner chamber 60from an outer chamber 62. While each of the peripheral wall 30,intermediate wall 58 and outer wall 42 are illustrated to be portions ofright cylinders in shape, other shapes may be adopted for one or more ofthe walls 30, 42 and 58.

A motor 64, such as a ¾ HP electric motor, can be fixed to and supportedby the cap 26. A shaft 66 can be coupled to the motor 64 by couplingmember 65 to extend downward through an opening 68 in cap 26 in generalaxial alignment with the riser 12. At least one propeller 70 can becoupled to the shaft 66 so that rotation of the shaft 66 by the motor 64can cause an upward flow of water within the riser 12. A buoyant member72 can be coupled to the chamber floor 34 or to outer wall 42 tomaintain the top wall 46 above the surface of the water surrounding thewater treatment unit 10, particularly in high water situations. In lowwater situations, the water treatment unit 10 may rest on the bottom 21of the ballast unit 22. Two or more torque lines 41 can be connected tothe outer wall 42 to prevent rotation of waste treatment unit 10 whenthe motor 64 is running.

The operation of the water treatment unit 10 is illustrated,particularly in FIG. 3. As shown in at least one exemplary embodiment,waste treatment unit 10 is be placed in a body of water W such thatriser 12 extends downward to a desired depth. It will be appreciatedthat the lower portion 14 of riser 12 may be made of a material thatallows the addition of segmented tubes or other structures, such as PVCpiping, stainless steel piping with threaded extensions, or other suchstructures that allows the ultimate depth of riser 12 to be determinedby a user such that stratified layers of water in a treatment lagoon canbe specifically targeted to be drawn up through riser 12 for oxygenationand displacement, thereby allowing water in the lower, anaerobic areasof a lagoon to be drawn up, oxygenated, and discharged. It will beappreciated that when motor 64 is powered on, water or the fluid in thelagoon, pond, or tank is drawn into the riser 12 through inlets 18 andpropelled upward through the riser 12 by one or more propellers 70.exits the riser 12 through outlets 24 into chamber 32. The continuousflow of fluid into the chamber 32 generally causes the fluid surfacelevel L within the chamber 32 to be slightly higher than the watersurface surrounding the chamber, thus providing a hydraulic pressureforcing the water out the openings 39 in the chamber floor 34. The sizeof the riser 12, motor 64, and propellers 70 are desirably selected sothat between about 600 to 1000 gallons of water per minute can be pumpedup though the riser 12 into the chamber 32. Furthermore, fluid surfacelevel L within chamber 32 may be manipulated by a user such that thepressure therein is increased, thereby allowing greater amounts ofoxygen to be transferred. For example, the surface level L may bemanipulated to increase sufficient to create a hydraulic pressure equalto approximately at least 1.1 atmospheres, at least 1.2 atmospheres, atleast 1.3 atmospheres, or at least 1.4 atmospheres hydraulic pressure,thereby entraining more oxygen therein.

This flow of fluid through riser 12 causes a continuous air inflow intothe upper end 16 of riser 12 though chamber ceiling opening 54, the airbeing mixed with the fluid within riser 12 at the point of discharge ofthe fluid from riser 12 through discharge outlets 24. As fluid cascadesout of discharge outlets 24, into inner chamber 60, out into chamber,chamber 32 and forcefully exits openings 39, the direction and depth atwhich the oxygenated fluid is discharged can be determined the optionaluse of flow direction pipes 74 and 76, which may be adjustable withrespect to each other to selectively determine the depth and directionof flow direction pipes 74 and 76. By selective direction of pipes 74and 76, the fluid outflow from waste treatment unit 10 can at leastpartially oppose or offset the rotation of the treatment unit 10 due tothe torque provided when the motor 64 is running. The flow of waterwithin the chamber 32 may cause the development of foam on the surfaceof the water within chamber 32, depending on the fluid conditions.According to at least one exemplary embodiment, accumulating foam can bevacuum withdrawn through pipe 78, or in another embodiment, the foamwill automatically eject through pipe 78 due pressure build-up.Additionally, it will be appreciated that an activated charcoal filtermay be added to pipe 78 to reduce any odor produced from the treatedwater as gas is offgased.

Turning now to FIG. 5, according to yet another exemplary embodiment,waste treatment unit 10 optionally includes a movable shearing blade 120attached to shaft 66, and a fixed shearing blade 122. Both fixedshearing blade 122 and movable shearing blade 120 may comprise metal,including steel, stainless steel, hardened steel, hardened stainlesssteel, or ceramic, carbide, or other suitable material. In practice,movable shearing blade 120 may be urged into close planar contact withfixed shearing blade 122 through the use of a bushing 124, whereby thebushing comprises a spring, rubber, or other material able to urgeshearing blade 120 toward fixed shearing blade 122. By urging movableshearing blade 120 toward fixed shearing blade 122, when motor turnsshaft 66, movable shearing blade rotates, and when passing over the topof fixed shearing blade 122, any material caught between movableshearing blade 120 and fixed shearing blade 122 is sliced, therebyreducing the likelihood of long, stringy waste from becoming entangledwith propeller 70 or clogging discharge outlets 24. Further, bushing 124allows a slight upward movement of the blade in relation to fixedshearing blade, any hardened or uncuttable objects may pass between thetwo blades, thereby preventing seizure of the unit and potential damageto motor 64.

In application, at least one embodiment an oxygen transfer rate of atleast 0.50 kg/hr O₂ transfer can be achieved while utilizingapproximately 4.5 to 5 amps of electricity at 120 volts. In at least oneadditional embodiment, an oxygen transfer rate of at least 0.8 kg/hr O₂transfer can be achieved while utilizing approximately 4.5 to 5 amps ofelectricity at 120 volts.

Turning now to FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that additional flowdirection pipes 74 and 76 may be added to inlets 18, thereby allowing auser to further control to the source of water collection, and furtherallowing selective uptake of water at points in the lagoon where theoxygen level is likely to be the lowest. Likewise, by selectivelyplacing flow direction pipes 74 and 76 to intake at points in a lagoonthat are most likely to have low oxygen levels (both in terms of heightand position within the lagoon), and by selectively placing flowdirection pipes 74 and 76 for dispelling oxygenated water from the wastetreatment unit 10, a more consistently oxygenated lagoon can bedeveloped by developing both inward and outward flow currents thatadequately disperse oxygenated water and intake low oxygenated water,thereby allowing permeation of oxygen throughout the lagoon withoutcreating a turbulent flow of water that precludes the settling oforganic matter that is required in clarification or settling tanks orlagoons. Further, due to the fact that flow can be directed withrelative precision and with relatively low pressure, a reduced amperageis required to operate motor 64, thereby resulting in increased energyefficiency. Finally, it will be appreciated that the use of suchdirectional flow allowing slower water transfer to occur further allowsthe use of propeller speeds to entrain air while not dispersingbacterial colonies known as flock.

Additionally, it will be appreciated that utilizing the flow directionpipes 74 and 76, water may be utilized to direct water brought up fromwarmer strata in the winter to help eliminate ice build-up on thesurface of outdoor lagoons, which further allows for additionaloxygenation of the lagoon.

While these features have been disclosed in connection with theillustrated preferred embodiment, other embodiments of the disclosurewill be apparent to those skilled in the art that come within the spiritof the disclosure as defined in the following claims. Further, it willbe appreciated that in very large ponds or lakes, it may be convenientor necessary to employ two or more water treatment units 10 to ensure atotal water flow volume sufficient to provide sufficient oxygen tosatisfy the BOD of the body of water.

1. A water treatment unit for treating water, the water treatment unitcomprising: a generally vertical riser having a lower end and an upperend, at least one inlet opening adjacent the lower end, and at least oneoutlet opening adjacent the upper end; a chamber surrounding the riserupper end the chamber having a base, a sidewall extending upward fromthe base, and a top, the chamber having at least one water outlet in alower portion of the chamber, and an air inlet in an upper portion ofthe chamber; a motor coupled to the chamber top, a shaft coupled to themotor extending downward from the motor in general axial alignmentwithin the riser, and at least one propeller coupled to the shaft tomove water up the riser into the chamber, operable to mix the water withair flowing inward through the air inlet, the mixed air and watercreating a head within the chamber forcing water out through the wateroutlet; and a directionally adjustable pipe coupled to the at least onewater outlet from the chamber.
 2. The water treatment unit of claim 1,further comprising a fixed shear blade within the riser in planarcontact with a movable shear blade coupled to the shaft, the movableshear blade operable to cut organic matter moving between the fixedshear blade and the movable shear blade.
 3. The water treatment unit ofclaim 1, wherein the head within the chamber creates an absolutepressure within the water treatment unit of at least 1.1 atmospheres. 4.The water treatment unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the atleast one propeller is placed within proximity of the air inlet in theupper portion of the chamber such that rotation of the propellerentrains air bubbles of 0.5 mm or less in diameter.
 5. The watertreatment unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one buoyantmember operable to maintain the water treatment unit at a preselectedlevel relative to a body of water in which it is placed.
 6. The watertreatment unit of claim 1, further comprising flow direction pipesattached to the inlet opening, operable to direct the height anddirection of any water to be urged into the water treatment unit.
 7. Thewater treatment unit of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate walldepending at least partially into the chamber from the chamber top.
 8. Awater treatment unit for treating water, further the water treatmentunit comprising: a generally vertical riser having a lower end and anupper end, at least one inlet opening adjacent the lower end, and atleast one outlet opening adjacent the upper end; a chamber surroundingthe riser upper end the chamber having a base, a sidewall extendingupward from the base, and a top, the chamber having at least one wateroutlet in a lower portion of the chamber, and an air inlet in an upperportion of the chamber; a motor coupled to the chamber top, a shaftcoupled to the motor extending downward from the motor in general axialalignment within the riser, and at least one propeller coupled to theshaft to move water up the riser into the chamber, operable to mix thewater with air flowing inward through the air inlet, the mixed air andwater creating a head within the chamber forcing water out through thewater outlet; and an intermediate wall depending at least partially intothe chamber from the chamber top, the intermediate wall dividing thechamber into an inner chamber and an outer chamber.
 9. The watertreatment unit of claim 8, further comprising flow direction pipesattached to each of the at least one water outlet, the flow directionpipes operable to direct the flow of water outward from the watertreatment unit.
 10. The water treatment unit of claim 8, furthercomprising a fixed shear blade within the riser in planar contact with amovable shear blade coupled to the shaft, the movable shear bladeoperable to cut organic matter moving between the fixed shear blade andthe movable shear blade.
 11. The water treatment unit of claim 8,wherein the head within the chamber creates an absolute pressure withinthe water treatment unit of at least 1.1 atmospheres.
 12. The watertreatment unit of claim 8, wherein at least one of the at least onepropeller is placed within proximity of the air inlet in the upperportion of the chamber such that rotation of the propeller entrains airbubbles of 0.5 mm or less in diameter.
 13. The water treatment unit ofclaim 8, further comprising at least one buoyant member operable tomaintain the water treatment unit at a preselected level relative to abody of water in which it is placed.
 14. The water treatment unit ofclaim 8, further comprising flow direction pipes attached to the inletopening, operable to direct the height and direction of any water to beurged into the water treatment unit.
 15. A water treatment unit fortreating water, the treatment unit comprising: a generally verticalriser having a lower end and an upper end, at least one inlet openingadjacent the lower end, and at least one outlet opening adjacent theupper end, a chamber surrounding the riser upper end the chamber havinga base, a sidewall extending upward from the base, and a top, thechamber having at least one water outlet in a lower portion of thechamber, and an air inlet in an upper portion of the chamber, anintermediate wall depending into the chamber from the top wall, theintermediate wall dividing the chamber into an inner chamber and anouter chamber, a motor coupled to the chamber top, a shaft coupled tothe motor extending downward from the motor in general axial alignmentwithin the riser, and a plurality of propellers coupled to the shaft tomove water up the riser into the chamber, operable to mix the water withair flowing inward through the air inlet, the mixed air and watercreating a head within the chamber forcing water out through the wateroutlet, and a fixed shear blade within the riser in planar contact witha movable shear blade coupled to the shaft, the movable shear bladeoperable to cut organic matter moving between the fixed shear blade andthe movable shear blade.
 16. The water treatment unit of claim 15,further comprising a directionally adjustable pipe coupled to the atleast one water outlet from the chamber.
 17. The water treatment unit ofclaim 15, further comprising flow direction pipes attached to each ofthe at least one water outlet, the flow direction pipes operable todirect the flow of water outward from the water treatment unit.
 18. Thewater treatment unit of claim 15, wherein at least one of the pluralityof propellers is placed within proximity of the air inlet in the upperportion of the chamber such that rotation of the propeller entrains airbubbles of about 0.5 mm or less in diameter.
 19. The water treatmentunit of claim 15, further comprising at least one buoyant memberoperable to maintain the water treatment unit at a preselected levelrelative to a body of water in which it is placed.
 20. The watertreatment unit of claim 15, further comprising flow direction pipesattached to the inlet opening, operable to direct the height anddirection of any water to be urged into the water treatment unit.